Toddlers learn about the world around them by completely immersing themselves in their play. Art is no exception--expect a lot of mess and an abundance of fun when you introduce your little one to the joys of creating masterpieces. Art at this age is a tactile experience, and the process is more important than the final project. It is helpful to remember that your child's completed creation will probably have little, if any, resemblance to the craft idea that you may have had in mind.
Painting
Toddlers should only use washable paints, and should wear smocks or old clothing. Mix up some watercolors, and give your child a chunky paintbrush and some paper to experiment on. Tape the paper to an easel or to an outside wall to encourage him to use his large muscles when painting. Once he understands how to use the brush and paint, let your imagination go wild. Use different objects in place of the paintbrush, such as feathers or crumpled paper. Allow him to paint on rocks, pieces of wood and assorted objects that you don't mind having painted. Let him try finger paints, as well as edible paints. Mix up vanilla pudding with food coloring, or give him a palette of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise to paint with. Shaving cream is another substance that makes good finger paint. Use especially messy materials on an outdoor table, and let your toddler clean up with the garden hose when finished.
Scissors and Glue
Give your child safety scissors to use with play dough. Show her how to place her fingers in the scissors, and watch to be sure that she keeps her other hand out of the way. The play dough is easier to cut through than paper. Once she knows what to do, let her try her hand at cutting paper.
Cut up squares of tissue paper, and let her use a small bottle of white glue to stick them to a large sheet of construction paper. She can also use the glue to make a sculpture out of wooden spools, fuzzy pom poms, googly eyes, yarn and whatever else you have available.
Nature-Based Art Activities
No matter what the season, take your toddler outside on a nice day to gather some material for art projects. During the winter, bring along a spray bottle or two filled with colored water. Show your child how to spray the snow and make a picture. When the first blooms of spring begin sprouting, pick a few and encourage your toddler to glue the petals to card stock, making homemade cards for grandparents and friends. Take a zip-lock bag to the beach in the summer to gather sand and shells, and show your child how to make patterns with them. Help him glue the items to a cardboard picture frame to remember the fun that you had in the sun. Finally, show your toddler how to press colorful leaves in the fall. Stick them between two sheets of clear contact paper to make "leaf" place mats.
